Fort Bragg provides parents, caregivers tips to prevent abuse

By Eve Meinhardt, ParaglideAugust 7, 2009

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Womack Army Medical Center celebrated the first anniversary of its involvement with the PURPLE Crying Program at a ceremony complete with purple-iced cupcakes July 29, in the pediatrics wing of the hospital. Dr. Sharon Cooper, chief executive officer, Developmental and Forensic Pediatrics, and Kelly Sullivan, psychologist and project manager, Center for Child and Family Health, were in attendance to congratulate WAMC on its accomplishments and to stress the importance of continuing to educate new parents on the program. The PURPLE Crying Program at WAMC provides new mothers with a video, along with education and information, reminding parents that crying bouts are normal for healthy infants and may continue periodically for the first five months of his or her life. Parents are told that feeling frustrated, helpless or angry during this period of inconsolable crying is okay, but it's their behavior and way of coping with the crying that is important. The program's name comes from the acronym PURPLE, which reminds parents some of the key information associated with inconsolable crying bouts: n Peak of crying: Your baby may cry more each week. The most at two months old, then less at three to five months. n Unexpected: Crying can come and go and you don't know why. n Resists soothing: Your baby may not stop crying no matter what you try. n Pain-like expression on baby's face: A crying baby may look like they are in pain, even when they are not. n Long lasting: Crying can last as long as five hours a day or more. n Evening: Your baby may cry more in the late afternoon and evening. Shaking a baby is never the proper response when a parent or caregiver is confronted with a baby who seems to be crying for no reason. Shaking a baby causes abusive head trauma, sometimes referred to as shaken baby syndrome, which can cause death or severe disability. "This program is a great service for our Families. We are thankful to have these materials and to be able to share them with the new mothers," said Lt. Col. Kathy Carson, chief, Maternal Child Health, WAMC. "I know the nurses probably feel like they are repeating themselves when they keep stressing the period of PURPLE crying, but it's important because we know this type of abuse can lead to death." Cooper said that discussing the period of PURPLE crying is something that cannot be talked out enough. "Saturation is important when it comes to understanding the issue of crying," said Cooper. "Everyone that visits with the baby should understand the consequences of shaking a crying baby. With the nature of military life, babysitters often play a big role in a child's life. Babysitters need to be trained and licensed." Sullivan said that being able to teach others is one of the advantages of the PURPLE Crying Program. "The great thing about the program is that new mothers can share program materials with their Family and everybody that cares for the baby," she said. The program materials include a card that defines PURPLE crying and provides tips on soothing a crying child. One of the tips is if a baby is crying, check to see if his or her basic needs are met. Feed and burp them, change the diaper if necessary, make sure his or her clothing isn't too tight and that the baby isn't too hot or too cold. If he or she continues crying, try providing comfort by walking, talking, singing, taking a ride, or simply holding the baby close. The program advises that if you are having trouble dealing with the crying, put the baby down in a safe place and take a few minutes for yourself. It's okay to walk away. Never respond by shaking or hurting the baby. Col. Ramona Fiorey, deputy commander, WAMC Patient Services, said that the PURPLE Crying Program is a valuable resource to offer military Families "WAMC does a very good job of taking care of infants, but we can always use any tools to help us do better. We really appreciate the program and know it has been extremely effective," said Fiorey. For more information on the PURPLE Crying Program, visit www.ncpurple.org. Additional resources include Military One Source at 1-800-342-9647 and the National Center for Shaken Baby Syndrome at www.dontshake.com.